Effects of hydrocephalus and ventriculoperitoneal shunt therapy on afferent and efferent connections in the feline sensorimotor cortex

Abstract

Collectively, analysis of these data indicates the following. 1) Cortical connectivity involving both afferent and efferent pathways was impaired in untreated hydrocephalic animals. 2) Shunt therapy improved both cortical afferent and efferent connectivity. 3) Complete reestablishment of the cortical efferent pathways, however, did not occur. Cortical pathway dysfunction, if permanent, could cause many of the motor and cognitive deficits seen clinically in children with hydrocephalus.